Toys get a lot of abuse: they get played with, dragged through the dirt, and touched by sticky popsicle fingers. It's probably not usually part of your house cleaning, so when you’re looking at an army of dirty toys, where do you start?

These tips should give you a few great ideas for tackling some of the toys your child loves:

That mud puddle your child’s superhero action figure swam in this morning probably wasn’t the cleanest, but you can be the superhero when you clean it back to it’s original glory. Here’s how:

• Soak the action figure in lukewarm water and dishsoap for 5 minutes.
• Remove the action figure and rinse under cold water.
• Dry the toy by patting with a towel.

Soon, that hero will be back on the front lines!

For many kids, stuffed animals are a go-to. Unfortunately, this means they see a lot of dirt! Thankfully, they are easy to clean:

• Cover the tip of a vacuum hose with pantyhose and vacuum the loose dirt off of the animal.
• “Bathe” the toy with a wash cloth dipped in warm water and dishsoap.
• Rinse with a clean, damp cloth and air dry.
• If the fur is matted, you can brush it with a pet brush

Keep their best stuffed friend in great shape—you will both be happy you did!

Barbies are iconic, and they see everything from the bathtub to the playground in a single day. How can you clean them—especially that hair?

• Wash the Barbie’s hair with dishsoap and warm water, then rinse well, dry, and brush.
• Gently scrub with a cotton ball or cotton swab to reach the smaller, more detailed places on the Barbie.